A good career for me?

Hey all,
I'm investigating becoming a Massage Therapist, looking into schools in the Portland area and wondering if its worth the money.

I love massage and have used alternative healing for myself (acupuncture and massage) for years. I'm currently a stay at home mom. I have an BS degree in business and was somewhat successful in marketing before I quit when I had kids 5yrs ago. My youngest will be starting school soon and I'm looking to do something positive and fulfilling that will also allow me some flexibility with my family life.

I'm not looking to get rich but will need to make at least 20-25K a year. I'm planning on working out of my home independently and marketing to the upscale suburban community I live in. Does this sound like a doable plan to the experts on this board? My concerns are that I will spend the money (and time commitment)and not be able to drum up enough business to make it worth my while. I am also concerned about what seems to be a glut of therapists in the Portland/Vancouver area. Any comments or advice would be much appreciated. I'm very serious about this and hope I don't come across as a bored mom looking for a hobby. I want to build a successful and thriving business that still allows me time for the occasional little league game. Thanks so much for your help!

While there are indeed a glut of therapists in this area, there are not enough GOOD therapists who offer both professionalism and advanced therapeutic work at a fair price.

A lot of people who get into this business lack basic professional skills. Many of my clients left their old therapist because they talked too much, used the session to talk about their own problems, were late to appointments or didn't bother to show up at all. Many of my clients left therapists who charged far too much for their services. Some therapists do get $100 an hour, but many clients understand they can pay $70 and see a better therapist who is focused on quality and service, not making $100K a year.

I also have a business degree and have the skills to market myself better than 90% of the therapists in this area. I have never had to advertise, I don't need a web site or a phone book ad.

After basic school I immediately took extra classes and practiced, practiced, practiced hot stone massage for relaxation clients, and Erik Dalton's Myoskeletal Alignment for clients with problems. Now I can't beat 'em away with a stick fast enough! I'm planning to open my own spa soon...

The money is well worth it if you keep expenses down and collect cash at the time of service. I don't recommend you file insurance. Let the clients pay and help them file their own insurance and get reimbursed. Insurance companies don't harass their insureds like the harass providers.

Massage is the perfect choice to make good money while focusing on your family.

If you want to have the ability to work in WA and OR, be sure to find a school that is approved in BOTH states. OR does not recognize WA licensing. They require additional school and a state practical exam. WA does reciprocate with OR.

>>I also have a business degree and have the skills to market myself better than 90% of the therapists in this area. I have never had to advertise, I don't need a web site or a phone book ad. <<

So what do you do?

HAving been a massage therapist for many many years I would say that one main consideration is the occupational hazards of this career: carpal tunnel and arthritis, etc. I think of it as a career where you a e better off having a private office because spas work you too much and you need to be in a situation where you can be selective about who you work on, not just have to work on whoever shows up. It is ahigh burnout career I think - It is wonderful in many ways also - but I would not tell you to rely on this income - no residual income and the massage industry has been terrible about protecting and defining acceptable business model and pay scales for therapists

Is it worth opening a practice as a neuromuscular therpist near a gym. I have worked as a massage therapist for the last 5yrs. in a salon working 10 hr shifts. I think about all the over head charges.